CH3OH, commonly known as methanol, is classified as a Lewis base. This classification stems from its ability to donate a pair of electrons. In the case of methanol, the oxygen atom has two lone pairs of electrons, which can be used to form a bond with a Lewis acid, an electron acceptor.
To understand this better, recall the definitions of Lewis acids and bases. A Lewis acid is defined as a substance that can accept an electron pair, while a Lewis base is one that can donate an electron pair. Since methanol’s oxygen can participate in this electron donation process, it fulfills the criteria of a Lewis base.
Furthermore, when methanol interacts with compounds that can act as Lewis acids, such as Boron trifluoride (BF3), it can effectively donate its lone pair to form a coordinate covalent bond, reinforcing its identity as a Lewis base. This makes methanol important in various chemical reactions and processes, particularly in organic chemistry.